This is obviously an AU, for starters! Short for what I was hoping the introduction chapter to be, but rest assured the ones to come will be a bit more than this. Anyway. This idea has been mulling over in my brain for a while now, and I finally got the motivation to do something about it, while at work, haha. So here's the summary. The rating is T for now, but may go up to M in the later chapters, I'm not too sure yet (I've only got chapters 1 to 5 planned out).
Summary: Nanase Haruka is a talented but unknown violinist who needs a push to get his music out there and sold. When a famous pianist discovers him, Haru's not sure if it's what he really wanted.
Disclaimer: I don't own Free! or anything to do with it, sadly.
Music To His Ears
Chapter 1 – Beginnings
Nanase Haruka's apartment was small. One bedroom, a bathroom only just big enough for a tub, a tiny kitchen, and a general living area that was only just big enough to fit a table and television in. In fact, one could even say it was tiny. The raven-haired male had never been able to afford anything better, and was more than happy to spend the rest of his life this way. The neighbours were noisy with their music on the weekends, but Haru could never find himself to care much. He himself created a lot of noise when he wanted to, and that was when the male lost himself to playing the violin. Said instrument was currently laid on the bed next to its bow – which desperately needed re-hairing – as its owner drummed his fingers on his desk, staring out of the medium-sized window at the cityscape.
As of late, Haru had found it hard to find any inspiration for music at all. The last few days he had come to the depressing conclusion that he had just ran out of ideas. Nothing seemed interesting. They were just frivolous, fleeting moments that held no value. Not even the way a small, common bird was hopping around on the narrow window ledge, pecking at the somewhat dirty glass every now and then, probably wondering why the giant inside was staring down at it with lidded, tired eyes, could give him a spark of inspiration.
He had originally thought that by the time he was 24, he would be settled down with a well-paid job, probably with some girl - or guy, he wasn't exactly picky - and got his life on track. That, however, hadn't really gone to plan. Once Haru graduated high-school, he had found no interest in University and, with a little help from a friend, managed to rent a place in the city, a part-time job soon following. His hobby and love of playing the violin didn't waver, and Haru spent many hours of the day writing, recording, and listening, though the CD's only ended up in piles on the floor. Which, of course, when he caved in to Nagisa and got a kitten, always got knocked over much to the raven's annoyance. By now he had just decided to shove the discs into a previously empty drawer, away from the feline's swishing tail.
Haru sighed as the bird spread its wings and flew away, wobbling a little in the air as the wind threatened to blow it off course. His eyes took on an unfocussed look as the male zoned out, the scene before him turning a little blurry.
A phone buzzing in his pocket pulled Haru out of his daydream, the attempt of finding inspiration failing for the umpteenth time that day. He pulled it out and groaned. Of course, a text from his childhood friend, Nagisa.
[From: Hazuki Nagisa] : Haru-chan, Haru-chan! Someone's sick at work and we need you really bad! Can you pleasepleaseplease come in? Thank youuu!
'As always,' Haru thought as he slid his phone shut and pushed his body up off the uncomfortable plastic chair. He made a note to buy a new one with his next pay check, and changed into his uniform. The clothes were simple; black trousers, white shirt, and nothing else. Though to make it a bit more cosy, Haru always made a point to where his favourite light blue hoody over the top. It annoyed the manager, but the raven couldn't care less as long as he kept his job. He quickly made sure his kitten, Kimi, had been fed, before shuffling over to the to the door. Grabbing his keys and phone, he made his way out, forgetting that he had left his precious, 60 year old violin on the bed. It didn't matter; the area he made his home in had a low rate of crime, apparently.
A quick jog later and Haru was at the small but popular bakery, slightly out of breath. Nagisa cheered and glomped his friend as soon as he walked in, which had Haru grumbling and gently pushing the hyperactive blond away.
"You're heavy," Haru protested as Nagisa went in for another too-tight hug.
"Aw, c'mon! Aren't ya happy to see me?" the shorter male chimed in a sing-song voice, earning a grunt from Haru. He walked into the back room, noting the usual disapproving stare he received from the manager, and pulled his navy coloured apron on before heading back out and standing in front of the till. It didn't seem like the place was all that busy, his fingers tapping on the counter as another customer strolled in. Not much taller than Haru, blue hair, red glasses, looking like he had something stuck up his butt. The raven had to hold back a snort as his mind made that comment, but on the outside his expression remained blank as usual.
"Ahem." The blue-haired male cleared his throat, and Haru looked up at him, an eyebrow raised ever so slightly. "I-I'd lik-"
"Rei-chaaaan!" Haru winced as a blur of blond zoomed past him and flew into the customer, almost knocking the pair of them down. Slender arms wrapped around the male with glasses, despite his efforts to get Nagisa off him.
"N-Nagisa! Get off me!" the male squeaked. Another suppressed snort from Haru. The blond in question eventually released 'Rei-chan' and giggled, earning a blush from the taller male.
"But Rei-chan's so fun to tease!" Nagisa fought back, and Haru could sense the evil intentions behind those words. Deep blue eyes glanced back to 'Rei-chan' as said male turned an even darker shade of crimson. It took him many minutes to finally calm down, and Nagisa skipped off to greet some more customers, before his gaze focused back on the till, staring at the blank screen.
"Ahem." Haru resisted the urge to roll his eyes and glared up at the bespectacled man.
"... Yes?"
"I'd like to place some orders if it's not too much trouble," was the response and with a huff, Haru reached under the counter and retrieved a thick black folder, and proceeded to open it up at the page he knew was the last used. Listening to the blue-haired man, Haru quickly jotted down the information provided and forced a fake smile as he left, but not without stuttering a goodbye to Nagisa. Only then did Haru roll his eyes.
'Weirdo,' he thought.
The four hour shift felt like an eternity for Haru, and when it ended, he never felt like he would enjoy the cold autumn breeze as much as he did then. It ruffled his jet black hair up, making it stick up in awkward directions, and he took a deep breath of the fresh, crisp air before sighing. As much as he hated having to socialise with strangers – or people in general – it kept a roof over his head and food on the table. Haru couldn't really complain even if he wanted to. It wasn't like his parents would lend him any financial aid, as they left him years ago, moving away as they found better jobs.
Those thoughts were soon blown away as Haru slowly walked through the large park that separated his apartment and workplace, watching as groups of teenagers drank alcohol and smoked God-knows-what. Nose wrinkling in slight disgust, Haru quickened his pace, and was soon back in the cosy confines of his home. An idea coming to mind, he snatched up his violin and shoved it, albeit gently, back into its case along with the bow.
The raven was at his door again when his stomach gave out a loud growl, demanding food before it would force Haru to start chewing on his arm or something. Kimi had also decided to begin to mewl loudly, and Haru rolled his eyes.
"Later," he muttered to his own body, ignoring the twinge of discomfort his hunger brought on, and yanked the door open. Kimi let out an almost growl of disapproval, but nevertheless Haru kicked the door shut with his foot and began to head downstairs. The male couldn't remember if he had locked it or not, but again, it didn't really matter to him. Apart from his violin, there wasn't really anything valuable inside his apartment anyway.
The cool breeze brought goosebumps to Haru's lower arms – he had rolled the sleeves of his hoody up for work – but he didn't make a point to pull the fabric back down so his skin was covered completely. Seeing his breath form in front of him in smoky wisps, Haru paused for a brief moment to let his gaze drift up to the partly cloudy sky. It had turned out to be a rather peaceful night, even if the air had a chill to it, and Haru's eyes trailed a plane above, only just visible with its flashing lights. Haru allowed himself a tiny smile – it was things like this that gave him inspiration in the past. Little things that nature would provide, whether it be a bird singing its tune at the crack of dawn, or the crickets buzzing in the summer nights. His expression saddening ever so slightly, Haru began to walk again, realising that none of that really helped any more. He could write music, but to him there was no life to it. No emotion. Nagisa always insisted that Haru's music was perfectly fine and that he should show it to some producer, but the raven refused, his self-confidence only sinking lower.
As he re-entered the park, it seemed the bunch of idiotic teenagers from before had vanished, so Haru perched himself on the small wall of the fountain in the centre; his usual place for playing in the dead of night. After getting his violin back out, the male closed his eyes, letting nature's own song ring in his ears.
With an intake of breath which he then held, Haru brought the instrument up to his chin, hesitated for a moment, and began to play. He had picked one of his earlier tunes; slow, with a sound that just seemed to fit the darkness that surrounded him, only broken by the odd street lamp every now and then. The dim light reflected slightly off the polished wood of the violin as he played, eventually forgetting the world around him.
When playing like that, Haru always felt like he was floating, as if he were free from all the restraints the modern world held him down with. It was that type of freedom that the raven always craved, but never received. His ego shot, Haru had eventually given up.
But right then, Haru couldn't care. His life wasn't the easiest, but he was able to get by. The tune he was playing came to its peak; his favourite part. Moving up to the thinnest and highest string, Haru added in a few little trills here and there to change it up a bit, the corner of his lips tugging upwards in a tiny smile.
As the saying went, all things must come to an end, and with a slightly aching left hand, Haru brought the tune to its end, doing a bit of vibrato on the last, long note, before letting out the breath he hadn't realise he'd been holding. The violin slipped off his shoulder and he rested it on his lap, content with sitting in his spot for a while longer despite the cold seeping into his body's core. A twig snapped somewhere nearby but it didn't frighten Haru one bit.
That was, until he heard a soft voice.
"That was amazing." Haru jumped, almost dropping his violin as his head spun around to meet the source of the voice. Brilliant green eyes, fluffy brown hair, and to top that a gentle expression that was sure to melt anyone into a puddle of mush on the floor.
So, uh, I hope you enjoyed that, re-reading it makes me cringe but whatever. Read and review, yes please? :)
Til next chapter~